Xiyu (西嶼; lit. “western isle”) Township constitutes an entire island (the most western of the main group and second-largest of all 64) in the 澎湖群島 (Penghu Archipelago). Home to many fishing and trading communities (e.g. 二崁 Erken, 外垵 Wai-an &c.), it is also known as 漁翁嶼/島 (Yuweng Yu/Dao; lit. “fishing man isle”), which has resonance with the Western name for Penghu: the Pescadores, which in Portuguese means “fishermen”.
Previous romanisations of Siyu and Hsiyu can still be seen.
Siyu (西嶼) alternative romanisation for Xiyu, Penghu County.
Hsiyu (西嶼) alternative romanisation for Xiyu, Penghu County.
Yuweng Yu/Dao (漁翁嶼/島; lit. “fishing man isle”) another name for Xiyu (西嶼; lit. “western isle”) Township, Penghu.
(See also: the Pescadores)
The Pescadores: Western name for 澎湖群島 (Penghu Archipelago), from Portuguese “fishermen”, also corresponding to 漁翁嶼 (Yuweng Yu; “fishing man isle”), an alternative name for 西嶼 (Xiyu; “western isle”), the archipelago’s second-largest island.
English-language accounts of Taiwan's history include two Pescadores Campaigns. The first in 1885 occurred at the end of the Sino-French War, when French forces occupied the islands to prevent Chinese re-arming of troops defending Keelung and Danshui.
The second in 1895 involved a similar assault by Japanese forces. Although it followed the armistice of the Sino-Japanese War, further fighting in Taiwan and Penghu was excluded by Japan so that it could strengthen its claim to take over the islands, which it did later that year.
Unlike “Formosa”, which also derives from Portuguese, “The Pescadeores" has no currency with average Taiwanese.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2011
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